AC switchboards

If voltages exceed 250 volts d.c. or 55 volts A.C. then the switchboard must be dead front (no exposed live parts at the front) of the metal clad t pe.

Bus bars
!igh conductivit copper rated to withstand the thermal and electromagnetic forces which would arise in the event of a short circuit at the bus bars with all the generators in parallel. "he bus bars will withstand these conditions for the length of time it ta#es for the alternator circuit brea#ers to trip or bac# up fuse to blow. Certain instruments and controls re$uire a feed direct from the bus bars. An connection between the bus bars and protecting fuses must be capable of withstanding maximum fault level. %tandard practice is to provide a three phase set of fuses& #nown as '(ac# )p' fuses& as near to the bus bars as possible. Connections are then led to the rac#s of the man instruments fuses fitted.

Circuit breakers
*ust be capable of ma#ing and brea#ing under normal conditions and also abnormal conditions such as a short circuit. As the circuit brea#er must be able to withstand closing onto a fault conditions without sustaining damage& it is of heav construction. +itted with an over current release and overloads with time lags& a circuit brea#er can be used as follows, a. To control the output of a generator b. As a direct on line starter c. Control outgoing feeder circuits -n modern switchboards 'draw out' circuit brea#ers ma be fitted. In the open position the whole circuit brea#er can be wound clear of the bus bars& thus full inspection and maintenance can be achieved without the necessit of de.energising the bus bars so providing a separate isolating switch. "he 'plug in' contacts /oining the circuit brea#er to the bus bars are not capable of ta#ing the brea#ing load and it is essential that the circuit brea#er is in the open position before an attempt is made to withdraw it. A mechanical interloc# is fitted arranged to trip the circuit brea#er before the winding handle can be inserted& "he brea#er also has a mid position& in this position the control circuits are still connected with the bus bar connection isolated. "he electrical operation of the brea#er can then be tested. Circuit brea#ers are normall fitted with under voltage protection and tripping is accomplished b shorting or open circuiting the no.volt coil which releases the latching in mechanism. "he no.volt coil ma also be open circuited b a reverse power rela and an overload trip fitted with a time dela

Instruments
The following instruments are the minimum that must be fitted; Bus bar voltmeter and frequency meter Volt meter and frequency meter, with selector switch to measure incoming machine conditions Ammeter with phase selector switch for each alternator Watt meter for each alternator Synchroscope and if chec synchroscope not fitted lamps !arth lea age indicator Additional instruments that may be fitted Watt hour meter "ower factor meter Alternator e#citation ammeter Alternator e#citation volt meter VAr meter Share connection supply meter

!mergency batteries on discharge meter

0hen a chec# s nchroniser is fitted it is there to prevent connecting an incoming machine to the bus bars whilst out of phase& it is not there as aid to s nchronising. In an emergenc the 'in s nch' light ma be used to indicate when the brea#er ma be closed. 0hen an incoming machine is selected& its no.volt coil and circuit brea#er contactor rela coil are connected in series with contacts on the chec# s nchroniser. "hese contacts must be closed& that is the machine in phase with the bus bars& before the brea#er contactor rela ma be energised. If starting from a dead ship the chec# s nchroniser must be switched to off before the first generator is put on the board.

Protection
a. Overload protection-fitted to circuit breakers b. Reverse power-When motive power is removed an alternator will try to become a synchronous motor and draw current from the circuit. A reverse power relay will operate after about seconds and about -!" reverse power for turbines# $%-$ " reverse power for diesels. The time delay prevents tripping during paralleling and taking the alternator off the board. c. &reference trip-automatically # and sometimes se'uentially# sheds load from board to maintain supply to essential services during periods of overload. d. (uses-)sually of the *RC type e. +iscrimination-The protective device closest to the fault should operate and protect other services f. ,roup starter board--arge demand sections may be separated from the main switchboard by fuses and circuit breakers.

Automatic voltage regulators

%hall be supplied separatel from all other instrument circuits. 1rotection should be b close to the suppl connections as possible. fuses mounted as

Shore supply connections

a. Where arrangements are made for the supply of electricity from a source on shore or other location a suitable connection bo. has to be installed in a position in the ship suitable for the convenient reception of fle.ible cables# it should contain a circuit breaker or isolating switch# fuses# and terminals of ade'uate si/e to receive the cable ends. b. (or three phase shore supplies with earthed neutral terminals are to be provided for connecting hull to shore earth c. An indicator for shore side connection energised is to be provided. d. A means for checking polarity or phase rotation is to be provided e. At the connection bo. a notice indicating ships re'uirements with respect to supply as well as connection procedure. f. Alternative arrangements may be submitted for consideration.